Frequently asked questions

What is the Emirates Airline Festival of Literature?

The Emirates Airline Festival of Literature (The Festival) is a celebration of literature in all its forms. As the Middle East’s largest annual literary festival, it offers residents and overseas visitors the opportunity to meet famous authors, attend literary debates, listen to readings and participate in workshops. Attendees can also enjoy the many free Fringe activities that are held as part of the festival.

The Festival, which is sponsored by Emirates Airlines, is organized by the Emirates Literature Foundation, a not-for-profit foundation with the mission to support and nurture literature within the community and the region.

What languages are spoken in Festival sessions?

The majority of our sessions are conducted in either Arabic or English, while some panel sessions may feature speakers of both languages. Simultaneous translation from Arabic to English (or vice versa) is available for selected sessions where appropriate. A handful of sessions may also be conducted in other languages, with translation available. Previous years have featured speakers of Chinese, French and German.

Language guidance is given on the web page for each session so that when you book you know which language(s) you can expect to hear.

When will the 2018 Festival take place?

The 2018 Emirates Airline Festival of Literature will take place over two weeks, 1-10 March.

How many authors will take part in the 2018 Festival?

The complete line-up of authors for 2018 will be announced later.

Where will the Festival take place?

The Emirates Airline Festival of Literature is spread over a number of venues. The main part of the programme, and Education Day, will take place at the InterContinental Hotel, Dubai Festival City. For more information about our venues click here.

What can we expect to see at the Festival?

Once again, there will be an Author Programme of talks, readings, interviews, debates and panel discussions led by bestselling international authors, along with cookery demonstrations, literary lunches and more. The workshop and masterclass programme will feature classes taught by top authors and instructors across a wide range of subjects. The free Fringe Festival (2-10 March) consists of musical and drama performances around the InterContinental. The full programme will be available later.

Will you be running any writing competitions in 2018?

What is planned for the Education Days in 2018?

Education days will be from 4-8 March 2018, and events will take place at the InterContinental Hotel Event Centre, Festival City. Some authors will also visit schools. For more information, click here.

What activities are there for children?

As well as the sessions for children and young adults in the main Festival programme, the Time Out Story Corner will be returning for 2017, offering free, fun and educational events. The Fringe, expanded in 2014 to include events in the Festival Centre as well as the InterContinental Hotel, will offer many free activities for children.

How and where do I get tickets?

Tickets are available online, from our office in Dar Al Adaab, at Magrudy’s, and from our box office at the InterContinental Hotel Events Centre during the Festival.

For detailed information on how and where to buy tickets, visit our guide.

Where can I buy the authors’ books?

Magrudy’s is the official bookseller for the Emirates Airline Festival of Literature. They will be selling the authors’ titles on site throughout the Festival, as well as stocking their books – so you can start reading up now!

I would like to work or volunteer for Emirates LitFest. How do I apply?

The year-round LitFest team is quite compact but positions do occasionally become available as the festival grows. Job listings can be found here.

We also recruit a number of interns and volunteers each year to help with the running of the Festival. The main difference between interning and volunteering is that internships last from September to March and are full-time positions primarily aimed at recent graduates beginning their careers, while volunteers are recruited in greater numbers for the duration of the Festival itself and some of the run-up – volunteers can set their own schedule when they sign up.

How can I find out more about the Emirates Airline Festival of Literature?

The best way to get breaking news about the Festival is to sign up for our newsletter. The newsletter goes out monthly throughout the year and more frequently in the immediate run-up to the Festival and contains news, recommended sessions, competition dates and anything else that may be of interest.

To learn more about our authors, subscribe to our blog, which features updates from past, present and future authors about what they’re doing now and what they’re writing next. By tuning in to Talking of Books on Dubai Eye 103.8 every Saturday you can also hear more about what’s happening in the Festival and in the world of books generally.